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Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and a single assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."